Paint brushes



Dec. 3, 1963 R. L. wElss PAINT BRUSHES Filed May l, 1962 United StatesPatent O 3,112,509 PAINE BRUSHES Robert 1.. Weiss, Wooster, Ghia,assigner to The Wooster Brush Company, Wooster, Ohio, a corporation ofGhia Filed May 1, 1962, Ser. No. 191,494 2 Claims. (Cl. 15-193) Thisinvention relates to paint brushes and like structures and moreparticularly to attachment means for securing the bristle portion of abrush to the handle portion thereof.

The invention has for its primary object the provision of a device ofthe aforesaid nature which is characterized by its structuralsimplicity, its inexpensive manufacturing costs, the ease of assembly ofits parts, the attractive forms in which the device may be made, and theparticularly effective manner in which it performs its function.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a brush structurehaving a handle, a bristle portion, and a connector, said connectoradapted to mechanically interlock with the handle and to be both bondedto and interlocked with the bristle portion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brush structure of theabove type wherein the connector is attached to the handle without theuse of nails, rivets, or other supplementary fastening means.

Further objects of the present invention, and a number of itsadvantages, will be referred to in or will be evident from the followingdescription of one embodiment of the invention, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a paint brush illustrating a preferredembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the paint brush of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line 4 4- of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective View of the connector of the invention.

Before the device here illustrated is specifically described, it is tobe understood that the invention here involved is not limited to thestructural details or arrangement of parts shown since brush structuresembodying the present invention may take various forms. It also is to beunderstood that the phraseology or terminology herein employed is forpurposes of description and not of limitation since the scope of thepresent invention is denoted by the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, the brush structure as herein illustratedcomprises a handle 1, a bristle portion 2 and a ferrule 3 which saidferrule encompasses portions of both the handle and the bristle portion.

The handle 1 has an upwardly directed gripping portion 4 and a generallyelongated, horizontally disposed bristle receiving portion 5. The handle1 may be made of any suitable material, such as wood, plastic, or thelike; it may be made in a single piece or, as herein illustrated,comprise a detachable gripping portion 4 having a downwardly directedreduced threaded portion 6 disposed Within a suitably internallythreaded socket 7 of the bristle receiving portion 5.

The bristle receiving portion 5, in the form of the invention shown, isgenerally rectangular in both longitudinal and transverse section and isprovided with a downwardly facing step S in the sides and ends thereof,said step extending in a horizontal direction completely around saidbristle receiving portion. As shown in FIG. 4, the longitudinallydirected sides of the bristle receiving portion are also provided withlike rectangular grooves 9 which are disposed a short distance below thestep 8. Below the grooves 9, there remain a pair of laterally directedshoulders 10 the vertical outer surfaces of which are stepped slightlyinwardly relative to the width of the bristle receiving portion justbelow the step 8.

The lferrule 3 may be made of any suitable material such as sheet metalor plastic and may be made in any suitable manner such as molding,forming, or casting. Said ferrule surrounds the bristle receivingportion 5 with its upwardly directed peripheral edge seated against thedownwardly facing step 8. Said ferrule projects downwardly a substantialdistance below the bristle receiving portion 5 and is preferablyprovided, adjacent its lower end, with one or more horizontallydisposed, continuous reinforcing ribs or beads 11. The lower end portionof the ferrule 3, in the area of the ribs or beads 11, embraces theupper end portion or knot of the bristle portion 2.

The bristle portion 2 comprises a multiplicity of bristles 12closelypacked and conforming in horizontal section to the shape of theferrule 3. As herein illustrated, a pair of separation strips 13 aredisposed within the bristles 12 adjacent their upper ends therebydividing them transversely into three substantially equal groups andproviding rigidity and reinforcement to the bristle portion in the areaof the bristle knot. It will be understood that more or less than twoseparation strips may be used depending upon the size of the brush.

The upper ends of the bristles 12 are permeated with a suitable bondingcompound 14 which rigidly bonds the bristles and the separation strips13 into a solid bristle knot and which compound extends upwardly asubstantial distance into the ferrule 3. Said bonding compound may be,for example, an epoxy resin which is introduced into the ferrule in aliquid state whereby it penetrates and permeates the upper ends of thebristles and subsequently is cured to form a strong, rigid mass adheringtightly to the inner surface of the ferrule.

The bristle receiving portion 5.is rigidly interloclred with the bristleportion 2 by means of a connector element 219 which is held againstvertical movement relative to the bristle receiving portion and projectsdownwardly into the bonding compound 14. The connector 20 is shown inperspective in FIG. 5 of the drawings and comprises a generallyelongated, channel shaped member yhaving a horizontally disposed, bottomweb 21 and a pair of vertically upstanding, edge lianges 22 projectingupwardly from the lateral, longitudinal edges of said web. The connectorelement 20 is preferably formed of sheet metal or similar material butmay also be made of a nonmetallic material such as an extruded plasticor the like. The upper edges of the anges 22 are formed to provide apair of channel shaped ribs 23 which project horizontally inwardlytoward each other from the said ilanges.

The ribs 23 are so formed as to snugly interfit with the longitudinalgrooves 9 of the bristle receiving portion S. The connector element 20is readily attached to said bristle receiving portion by inserting theribs 23 into the grooves 9 adjacent one end of the bristle receivingportion and subsequently sliding the connector element longitudinally ofsaid bristle receiving portion until it is substantially centeredbeneath the gripping portion 4 of the handle 1. The ribs 23 then restupon the shoulders 10 of the bristle receiving portion with the flanges22 abutting the lateral, vertical faces of said shoulders. The shoulders10 are laterally reduced in dimension suiciently to allow for thethickness of the anges 22 whereby the outer surfaces of said flanges arealigned with and positioned atwise against the inner surface .of theferrule 3.

The web 21 thus affords a horizontal brideg between the side walls ofthe ferrule 3 as shown in FIG. 4, said web being dispose substantiallybelow the upper surface of the bonding compound 14. The web 21 ispreferably provided with a plurality of apertures 24 whereby the bondingcompound 14 extends upwardly through and interlocks with the web 21 whensaid bonding compound J is in its solidied state. When all of the partsare assembled, the ferrule 3 prevents lateral outward movement of theflanges 22 and the ribs 23 of the connector element as shown in FIG. 4whereby said ribs cannot become displaced relative to the groove 9 ofthe bristle receiving portion S. The ferrule also prevents longitudinalmovement of the ribs along the grooves since the connector Ztl isanchored to the bristle portion 2 and said bristle portion is retainedagainst horizontal movement by said errule.

The web 21 thus affords a horizontal bridge between The result is thatthe connector element is solidly mechanically interlocked with thebristle receiving portieri and is initially bot'n bonded to andmechanically interloclied with the bristle knot of the bristle portion 2by means of the web 21 disposed within the bonding compound 14. Even itthe adhesion between the connector portion and the solidilied bondingcompound is subsequently broken, the mechanical interlock willeffectively maintain a solid connection between said connector portionand said bristle portion.

A preferred method of manufacturing the brush of this inventioncomprises iirst disposing the upper end of the bristle portion 2 withinthe lower end portion of a preformed ferrule 3. The bonding compound 14,in a liquid state, is then poured into the ferrule whereby the bristleknot is permeated with the compound as hereinbefore disclosed. Thehandle l, with the connector element attached thereto by means of theribs 23 and the grooves 9, is then inserted in the upper end portion orthe ferrule 3 until the upper edge of said ferrule seats against thestep 8 of the bristle receiving portion S. This disposes the aperturedweb 2l within the liquid compound which subsequently hardens to form asolid brush structure.

In the form of the invention as herein illustrated, the connector Ztl issubstantially elongated in a horizontal direction and is alsosubstantially shorter than the bristle receiving portion 5. lt isanticipated that the length of the connector 20 can be equal to thelength of the bristle receiving portion if desired It is alsoanticipated that the connector element can be divided longitudinallyinto a plurality of shorter segments positioned at various locationsthroughout the length of the bristle receiving portion.

The resulting structure provides a solid handle and bristle portioncombination wherein the connector, ferrule, and bristle portion arefirmly connected and the connector and bristle portion are eiifectivelymaintained in assembled relationship.

It will be understood that many changes may be made in the details ofthe invention as herein described and illustrated without, however,departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A brush structure comprising a handle; the lower end of said handlehaving a horizontally disposed, elongated bristle receiving portion; achannel shaped connector element having upwardly directed flangesoutwardly overlapping opposite side portions of said bristle receivingportion; said bristle receiving portion having horizontal grooves insaid side portions; the upper edges of said flanges having elongatedribs interiitting said grooves;

said connector element aording a horizontally disposed web spaceddownwardly from said bristle receiving port tion; means deiining atleast one aperture in said web; a bristle portion disposed below saidweb; a ferrule surrounding a portion of said bristle receiving portion,overlapping said side portions and extending downwardly therefrom andembracing said connector element and the upper end of said bristleportion; a solidified bonding compound bonding the upper end of saidbristle portion into a solid bristle knot and extending upwardly withinsaid errule above and over said web and through said aperture andrigidly bonding said bristle portion, ferrule, and web to each other;said ferrule retaining said ribs against lateral movement relative tosaid grooves.

2. A brush structure comprising a handle; the lower end of said handlehaving an elongated, horizontally disposed, bristle receiving portion; achannel shaped connector element having upwardly directed flangesoutwardly overlapping portions of the longitudinal sides of said bristlereceiving portion; means deiining horizontally directed grooves alongthe entire length of the longitudinal sides of said bristle receivingportion; the upper edges of said flanges having inwardly directed,longitudinal ribs slidably interitting said grooves; said connectorelement atlording a horizontally disposed web spaced downwardly fromsaid bristle receiving portion; means deiining apertures in said web; aferrule surrounding a portion of said bristle receiving portion,overlapping said grooves and ribs and extending downwardly therefrom; abristle portion having the upper end thereof disposed within the lowerend of said ferrule; a solidified bonding compound bonding the upper endof said bristle portion into a solid bristle knot and extending upwardlywithin said ferrule above said web and interlocking with said aperturesand rigidly bonding said bristle portion, ferrule, and

web to each other; said ferrule retaining said ribs against longitudinaland lateral movement relative to said grooves.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,074,522 Nelson Sept. 30, 1913 2,610,345 Simms Sept. 16, 1952 2,641,014Sauter et al lune 9, 1953 2,840,841 Maxwell July l, 1958 2,854,684Hardman et al Oct. 7, 1958 3,076,989 Daw Feb. l2, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS`382,325 Germany Oct. l, 1923 553,700 Italy Dec. 29, 1956 nlm...

1. A BRUSH STRUCTURE COMPRISING A HANDLE; THE LOWER END OF SAID HANDLEHAVING A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED, ELONGATED BRISTLE RECEIVING PORTION; ACHANNEL SHAPED CONNECTOR ELEMENT HAVING UPWARDLY DIRECTED FLANGESOUTWARDLY OVERLAPPING OPPOSITE SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID BRISTLE RECEIVINGPORTION; SAID BRISTLE RECEIVING PORTION HAVING HORIZONTAL GROOVES INSAID SIDE PORTIONS; THE UPPER EDGES OF SAID FLANGES HAVING ELONGATEDRIBS INTERFITTING SAID GROOVES; SAID CONNECTOR ELEMENT AFFORDING AHORIZONTALLY DISPOSED WEB SPACED DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID BRISTLE RECEIVINGPORTION; MEANS DEFINING AT LEAST ONE APERTURE IN SAID WEB; A BRISTLEPORTION DISPOSED BELOW SAID WEB; A FERRULE SUR-